Well, we do spend money on defense, and if you are in trouble, living in Germany or France, and some neighbor invades you, who do you really want to call for military assistance? China? Russia? India? Pakistan? North Korea? Egypt? Iraq? Iran? Lybia?
Well, there was the small matter of Kuwait a little over 10 years ago, but I guess that's beyond your memory capacity.
Thank you for letting me have a look at that link, which I find very interesting. I did not know that there was such a thing as a "Christian Science Monitor". I will check if there is anything equivalent for Muslims. But perhaps I should quote more from that article than the numbers which MFSE picked: "For decades, the success of development aid was measured only in the resources spent, not the results achieved," Bush said. "We must tie greater aid to political and legal and economic reforms." No wonder then that the receiving nations look at donations with great suspicion.Some aid eg is linked to population control. Do you really advocate forced abortions up to the 8th month of gestation (as is reported as practice in some parts of China)? Or other means such as "voluntary" sterilisation, as was a world bank funded programme in India in the 1980s under Indira Ghandi? These are just some excesses, and sure, nobody, unless they are in the timber trade, is for the deforestation of the tropical rainforest, but are you 100% sure that your teak furniture is not from Indonesia or Burma? Easy to forbid tropical timber if you are far away and there are kids starving in somebody else's country.
I sincerely doubt you will find an Islamic equivalent to the Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor is rather famous for presenting many diferent perspectives, well written articles, intellectual honesty, and an overall fair and balanced opinion base.
:eek: :eek: :eek: Sure, probably the same people who regarded Hitler as a liberator and your home country of Indonesia as an integral part of The Netherlands. This one is a classic, Fairplay! You have really shown your depth here (less than a puddle). So let me guess, since you feel that Kuwait is an integral part of Iraq, you feel Saddam was justified in invading in '91?!? You must be trying to make up for Wild's absence. If so, you're doing a good job. Keep up the good work!
Lets pause here for a sing-a-long before resuming hostilities. IF YOU'RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT, BOMB IRAQ If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq. If the markets are a drama, bomb Iraq. If the terrorists are frisky, Pakistan is looking shifty, North Korea looks too risky, Bomb Iraq. If we have no allies with us, bomb Iraq. If we think someone has dissed us, bomb Iraq. So to hell with all the inspections, Let's look tough for the elections, Close your mind and take directions, Bomb Iraq. It's "pre-emptive non-aggression", bomb Iraq. Let's prevent this mass destruction, bomb Iraq. They've got weapons we can't see, And that's good enough for me 'Cos it's all the proof I need Bomb Iraq. If you never were elected, bomb Iraq. If your mood is quite dejected, bomb Iraq. If you think Saddam's gone mad, With the weapons that he had, (And he tried to kill your dad), Bomb Iraq. If your corporate fraud is growin', bomb Iraq. If your ties to it are showin', bomb Iraq. If your politics are sleazy, And hiding it ain't easy, And your manhood's getting queasy, Bomb Iraq. Fall in line and follow orders, bomb Iraq. For our might knows not our borders, bomb Iraq. Disagree? We'll call it treason, Let's make war not love this season, Even if we have no reason, Bomb Iraq.
Ok.....if we take away all the non americans we will only have Native Americans. That would make for a very small ET.
hello fairplay just feel like telling you how much i love your wonderful country. i am a Swiss expatriate and have travelled your part of the world extensively, an unforgettable experience. Grüezi msfe